A14_Sources_Sought_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

National Operations Center Denver Federal Center, Building 50 (OC-663)

P.O. Box 25047 Denver, CO 80225-0047

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing this sources sought notice as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for vegetation treatment services in for the Cherrywood Fire that naturally ignited on the 17th of May 2021 and spread to BLM lands withdrawn for military use located within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). The work consists of applying a pre-emergent herbicide to 5,000 acres within the burned area to control red brome (Bromus rubens) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) two nonnative invasive annual grass species.

There is no solicitation at this time. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals or quotes; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information:

1. Organization name, address, email address, website address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization.

2. Tailored capability statement addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

3. Does your firm have an active SAM registration?

4. Does your firm hold a current Nevada Commercial Applicator License for the application of herbicide in the weed control category for this type of application?

5. Any questions or concerns regarding the draft Statement of Work attached.

The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated, secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements, implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation, and provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract.

Based on the responses to this sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses or procured through full and open competition, and multiple awards may be made. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by April 6, 2023, 12:00 PM CDT. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to Jennifer Gartzke at jgartzke@blm.gov. If you have any questions concerning this opportunity, please contact Jennifer Gartzke.

Attachments:

1. Statement of Work

2. Vicinity Maps mailto:jgartzke@blm.gov

STATEMENT OF WORK

CHERRYWOOD WILDFIRE EMERGENCY STABILIZATION AND REHABILITATION

SOUTHERN NEVADA DISTRICT OFFICE, NEVADA TEST AND TRAINING RANGE

Cherrywood Herbicide Application

1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS

A. INTRODUCTION

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is acquiring vegetation treatment services for the Cherrywood Fire that naturally ignited on the 17th of May 2021 and spread to BLM lands withdrawn for military use located within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). The work consists of applying a pre-emergent herbicide to a minimum of 5,000 acres within the burned area to control red brome (Bromus rubens) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) two nonnative invasive annual grass species.

Ground-based application will not be permitted due to the size of the treatment area, the potential to cause additional ground disturbance, the likelihood of spreading invasive weeds, the potential for an accidental detonation of unexploded ordnance, impact to ongoing military training exercises, and impacts to cultural resources that are susceptible to damage by overland travel.

The project area is located approximately 20 miles northeast of Beatty, Nevada, sub-range 77 of the Nevada Test and Training Range, and west aspect of the Timber Mountain Caldera Area of Critical Environmental (ACEC). The project area is depicted on the Location and Vicinity Maps (attached).

Applicable Directives

The contractor must hold a current Nevada Commercial Applicator License for the application of herbicide in the weed control category appropriate for the application type.

Proof of licensing shall be provided with the quote. The contractor shall comply with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Applying Herbicides outlined in the Record of Decision for the Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic EIS, (September 2007 and 2016) and the Cherrywood Emergency Stabilization Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) document which tiers from DOI-BLM- NV-S0l0-2019-0053-EA Uplands Herbicide Use Environmental Assessment and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Location and Description

The attached vicinity and project maps showing the location of the project area. The project area is approximately 20 miles northeast of Beatty, Nevada. The fire started on the Nevada National Security Site and spread to the Nevada Test and Training Range.

This project will only treat the burned area on the BLM withdrawn lands for military use located on the Nevada Test and Training Range. The project area lies in a transitional zone between the Mojave Creosote Bush and the Pinion Juniper Woodlands. The elevation ranges from 6,250 to 7,450 feet and is characterized as steep mountainous terrain.

B. SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL

The minimum requirements of this project are listed below, and the contractor will be required to treat the project area in accordance with these specifications. Unless otherwise specified, the contractor shall furnish all equipment, labor, supplies, and materials required to complete the job. The contractor shall be responsible for all support, service, and repair of equipment as necessary to maintain satisfactory progress on work.

GPS REQUIREMENTS:

1. GPS compatible navigation system: Equipment shall be equipped with a GPS

Guidance/Tracking system capable of accepting and utilizing ESRI GIS Shapefiles.

The contractor upon the request of the U.S. Government shall provide a GIS Shapefiles of applied treatment coverage to the project area.

2. Differentially Corrected Global Positioning System (DGPS): DGPS is required for tracking and data collection. The contractor shall provide all guidance equipment, materials, computers, printers, personnel, and services required for the system to be used. The system shall be sufficiently sensitive to provide immediate deviation indications (real-time). The DGPS system must be capable of determining a differentially corrected location with an error of no more than one to two meters in the horizontal plane. The guidance system shall be capable of updating the current position at a rate of a minimum of one time per second. Differential correction must cover the complete operational area. During operation, the differentially corrected signal must be accurately recorded at least 90% of the operational time. Differential correction may be provided by a portable differential station, FM radio fixed towers or satellite.

3. Equipment Requirements:

Software: Software provided with DGPS must be designed for parallel offset in increments equal to the assigned swath width of the application equipment.

Project Log: Must be capable of a minimum rate of one-second logging intervals.

Full record includes position, time, altitude, speed, track, application system on/off, job name/number, and differential correction status. The computer program must be capable of calculating and showing the total acres treated during the application and capable of downloading to a computer for analysis and review. The project log must show and differentiate between spray-on and spray-off when viewed on a computer monitor or printer. Export files of each project log shall be provided electronically and must be compatible with ESRI software. The contractor may provide software that is compatible, and which will enable the files to convert into viewable files for ESRI software. The contractor shall provide project log data at the end of each day's application. Additionally, the contractor shall, upon request by the COR or Project Inspector, be able to supply project log data on a USB memory drive for review at any time during the contract. The contract will not be considered complete until the data has been reviewed and deemed complete with no skips in the sprayed areas.

The DGPS system must be capable of zooming in on any portion of the treatment to view a specific area with greater detail.

Hardware: Visual Display Monitor and Control Keypad: (1) capable of displaying swath width over project path; (2) mounted in a location that will allow the applicator to view the screen; (3) have a method to display nested polygons to indicate sensitive or no-spray areas within or adjacent to treatment blocks; (4) have a feature that allows the applicator to return to the exact location of application shutdown and complete application without omitted or doubled treated areas; (5) be able to input reference waypoints (A-B line); (6) have a feature which alerts applicator when they are about to enter or exit a specific treatment block or an exclusion area within a block.

Course Deviation Indicator (CDI): The course deviation indicator or course deviation light must have the capability to display both cross-track errors and intercept angle to the desired heading. Cross-track error shall be adjustable down to one foot.

Memory: Must be capable of storing up to ten hours of continuous project log data.

Log: Must be capable of calculating and showing total acres treated during treatment, must show the entire track of the equipment from beginning to end, and differentiate between spray drop-on and spray drop-off. A color printout and export files shall be provided on a standard removable drive, USB drive, or other appropriate media approved by the COR and the Southern Nevada BLM District Office and must be ESRI-compatible GIS Shapefiles.

SPECIFIC TASKS

1. Contractor shall provide a completed Pesticide Application Record (PAR) for the treated site (see attached). At a minimum, one PAR per day must be completed.

Each PAR will match the corresponding GPS log data. The contractor shall, upon request by the COR or Project Inspector (Pl), be able to supply PARs for review at any time during the contract. The contractor shall submit final PARs no later than two weeks after applying the herbicide specified in this contract.

2. A GIS shapefile/project (ESRI compatible) log containing treated areas is required daily. The shapefile will be in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 11 datum NAD83. Contact information (e.g., email and phone number) for whom the contractor will provide project log data will be given to the contractor during the post-award conference.

3. Herbicide will be applied utilizing water as a carrier, with no less than nine ounces/acre of tank mix applied. Herbicide, water, and tank shall be provided by the contractor.

4. All roads (public and private) damaged or opened by the contractor shall be restored at no cost to the U.S. Government to their condition prior to commencement of work.

5. Adhere to:

a. Standard Operating Procedures for Applying Herbicides outlined in the Record of Decision for the Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic EIS, (September 2007 and 2016) (attached).

b. Minimization and mitigation measures within DOI-BLM-NV-S0l0-2019-0053- EA Uplands Herbicide Use Environmental Assessment (attached).

c. All applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

6. The Contractor shall not be permitted onto the Nevada Test and Training Range at any time without a United States Air Force (USAF) or BLM escort. All contracted employees must be citizens or naturalized citizens of the United States. A minimum of two weeks prior to the start of work, the contractor shall provide the personally identifiable information for each employee needing access to the project area to either the BLM or NTTR to obtain range badges. The contractor and all employees will be required to watch a range safety video.

7. If sensitive, endangered, or threatened species (plant or animal) are discovered within the treatment area the contractor is to immediately notify the COR. The Government may issue a suspend work and/or partially terminate any portion of the work due to discoveries of sensitive, threatened, endangered species or archeological sites during contract operations.

8. Herbicide shall not be applied within 100 feet (31 meters) of water sources

(troughs, ponds, open water). Upland areas are any non-riparian areas throughout the district and are at least 656 feet (200 meters) away from standing water. Contractor is expected to apply the herbicide consistent with the maps and shapefiles provided by the BLM.

9. Eye-level wind velocities for chemical applications of herbicides must be six mph or less at the application site. The contractor is responsible for checking site conditions at the project area using a device that provides quantitative data that is not subjective (for example a Kestrel).

10. Liquid application shall not be made during a rainstorm, snowstorm, or when the ground is frozen.

11. Contractor is responsible for the identification and avoidance of any ground and aerial hazards.

12. Spray strips shall be patterned in such a manner as to secure as high a uniformity of herbicide distribution as possible.

13. DGPS navigation unit shall ensure straight and regular application paths.

Irregular paths will result in an immediate stoppage of work. Corrective action shall be taken immediately by the contractor to ensure evenly spaced, straight, and regular paths and complete coverage of areas included in the spraying activity. The entire surface within the designated boundaries of the project area shall receive uniform coverage with herbicide except for areas excluded by the U.S. Government. Areas excluded from the herbicide operation within the designated boundaries, will not be included in the acreage computed for payment. Dispersal methods must be able to obtain proper distribution and uniform coverage of herbicide.

2.0 PROPERTY AND SERVICES

A. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES

1. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, fuel, chemical, water (for application), supervision, supplies, and incidentals to perform all work as outlined in the specifications. The contractor shall be responsible for the transportation and storage of the supplies and equipment used for the project.

2. The Contractor shall be responsible for safely transporting, storing, and disposal of the herbicide and disposal of herbicide containers.

3. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that the application of the herbicide meets all label specifications and complies with all Federal, State, and Local regulations (most restrictive of these shall be followed). The contractor shall be responsible for cleanup of accidental spills, following proper handling and storage precautions, and ensuring proper exposure control and personal protection is provided as defined by the herbicide label and Safety Data Sheets. The contractor must comply with the product label during use, application, and storage as required by BLM Appendix B, Herbicide Treatment Standard Operating Procedures (attached).

4. Approved Herbicides and Adjuvants:

The prescribed herbicides will have the following EPA registration numbers and are approved for use on BLM lands:

Imazapic - applied at 9 fluid ounces/acre (must be equivalent to 0.141 lbs. of active ingredient/acre).

• Plateau 241-365

• Panoramic 2SL 66222-141-81927

B. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

1. The U.S. Government will provide maps with the project area boundaries, and shapefiles of the project area boundaries (for GPS upload). The U.S. Government will not be responsible for loading this information onto Contractor devices or equipment.

3.0 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

A. FIELD QUALITY CONTROL

1. The COR/PI will monitor to determine the uniformity of herbicide application.

Randomly placed drift cards will be utilized. If less than 90% of drift cards show herbicide coverage, the contractor shall be required to treat those areas at no additional cost to the U.S. Government.

2. The U.S. Government reserves the right to stop treatment operations at any time when conditions are considered sufficiently unfavorable to warrant stoppage.

Stoppage shall continue until operations are again authorized by the Government.

B. EXPECTED DELIVERY OR PERFORMANCE TIMES

1. The period of performance is from date of award through June 30, 2023.

2. There will be a Pre-Work conference before the start of the project at an agreed-upon date between the COR/PI and the contractor. At the prework conference, the contractor shall provide the COR with a written "work progress" plan that details the proposed workforce and schedule to provide the orderly completion of the work within the contract performance times. This work schedule must be acceptable to the U.S. Government. At a minimum, the schedule should reflect a work progress rate equal to the available amount of contract performance time but may be subject to change because of normal variations in weather conditions.

3. Accessing the Nevada Test and Training Range requires 60 calendar days of lead time notification to facilitate coordination by the NTTR Range Liaison (NTTR-XPN).

At the prework conference, the contractor shall provide the Southern Nevada District BLM with a "monthly schedule of available dates" and a "work progress plan" that details the proposed workforce and schedule needed for the completion of work. In addition, the contractor shall incorporate additional time into the "monthly schedule of availability dates" to account for inclement weather and winds above the allowed spraying threshold. The Southern Nevada District Bureau of Land Management (SND-BLM) will submit the "monthly schedule of available dates" and a "work plan" to the NTTR Range Liaison for approval to be incorporated into the range schedule.

4. The Contractor shall contact the authorized BLM Contracting Officers Representative or Project Inspector (COR/PI) 72 hours prior to implementing any work specified in this contract.

C. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) AND/OR PROJECT

INSPECTOR (Pl) The COR and/or Project Inspector (Pl) will be appointed by the Contracting Officer upon award of the contract. Such COR/PI will be responsible for giving the contractor any special instructions or guidance necessary to complete delivery as required by the contract. The COR or PI does not have the authority to modify or in any way amend the terms of this contract.

D. PRE-QUOTE TOUR

A site visit to the contract area will not be conducted. The project area is located on the Nevada Test and Training Range and is not publicly accessible. Maps along with GIS shapefiles will be provided to the bid for area familiarization.

E. SAFETY

1. The Contractor is responsible for providing a safety plan that identifies a point of contact in the event of an accident. The plan should include names and emergency phone numbers for personnel and facilities to contact, including Flight for Life/Life Flight/Care Flight, etc., in case an emergency warrants such actions. The plan should also include a description of on-site emergency procedures to follow in case of an accident. The plan should identify the insurance company providing coverage and the pertinent group coverage number. It is the responsibility of the contractor to identify all hazards within the work area. The contractor shall take all appropriate precautions.

The BLM and/or USAF range escort will also have access to USAF Emergency Services if an accident occurs on the Nevada Test and Training Range.

2. The contractor shall be responsible for developing a spill plan that includes herbicides, fuels, and lubricants. The contractor shall report spills and accidents immediately to the BLM authorized officers and appropriate local authorities. The contractor shall have equipment and supplies on-site to provide immediate treatment of contaminated or injured persons and seek professional medical attention when necessary. The contractor shall have equipment and supplies to control chemical spills quickly and shall secure additional help when the contractor cannot effectively or safely handle the spill cleanup. Spills will be the responsibility of the contractor and shall be cleaned up to the satisfaction of the local authorities.

4.0 INVOICING

Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements - Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) (April 2013)

Payment requests must be submitted electronically through the U. S. Department of the Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform System (IPP).

"Payment request" means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment by the

Contractor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in the applicable Prompt Payment clause included in the contract, or the clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items included in commercial item contracts. The IPP website address is: https://www.ipp.gov.

Under this contract, the following documents are required to be submitted as an attachment to the IPP invoice:

Any receipts associated with travel costs submitted for reimbursement.

The Contractor must use the IPP website to register access and use IPP for submitting requests for payment. The Contractor Government Business Point of Contact (as listed in SAM) will receive enrollment instructions via email from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRBSTL) within 3 - 5 business days of the contract award date. Contractor assistance with enrollment can be obtained by contacting the IPP Production Helpdesk via email IPPCustomerSupport@fiscal.treasury.gov or phone (866) 973-3131.

If the Contractor is unable to comply with the requirement to use IPP for submitting invoices for payment, the Contractor must submit a waiver request in writing to the Contracting Officer with its proposal or quotation.

(End of Local Clause)

5.0 CONTRACT TYPE

The BLM anticipates awarding a firm fixed price contract for this project.

6.0 TRAVEL

Approved allowable and allocable travel costs associated with the performance of the contract will be reimbursed. Contractor costs incurred for travel will be considered reasonable and allowable only to the extent they do not exceed on a daily basis the maximum per diem rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). As such, estimated allowable and allocable travel costs shall be included in the contract pricing when travel is anticipated. Costs incurred for transportation and per diem (lodging, meals and incidental expenses) will be billed in accordance with the regulatory implementation of Public Law 99-234, FAR 31.205-46 Travel Costs. These costs are directly reimbursable.

The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer for reimbursement of transportation and per diem expenses, prior to traveling.

The Government shall not be charged G&A fees for any travel. Contractor shall be reimbursed only for incurred costs at or below the “not to exceed” amount specified on the contract. Costs for transportation, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred by contractor personnel on official company business are allowable subject to the limitations contained in FAR 31.205-46 Travel Costs.

https://www.ipp.gov/ https://www.ipp.gov/ mailto:IPPCustomerSupport@fiscal.treasury.gov

Bureau of Land Management, National Operations Center, 100K Mapping Group, OC-535 BLM_GeoSpatialGateway@blm.gov.

Legend SNDO Land Status NAME

Department of Defense Department of Energy

Cherrywood Fire Herbicide Spray Area

Cherrywood ESR Project Map

N No Warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual use or aggregate use with other data.Map Created By: A. Johnson 7/13/2022 Scale 1:125,000

Beatty Airport

(BTY)

Bureau of Land Management, National Operations Center, 100K Mapping Group, OC-535 BLM_GeoSpatialGateway@blm.gov.

Legend Cherrywood Fire Herbicide Spray Area SNDO Land Status

NAME

Bureau of Land Management Department of Defense Department of Energy

Cherrywood ESR Vicinity Map

N No Warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual use or aggregate use with other data.Map Created By: A. Johnson 7/13/2022 Scale 1:275,000

Beatty Nevada

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND MITIGATION

BLM Vegetation Treatments Three New Herbicides A-9 August 2016 Final Programmatic EIS Record of Decision

TABLE A-2

Standard Operating Procedures for Applying Herbicides

Resource Element Standard Operating Procedure

Guidance Documents BLM Handbook H-9011-1 (Chemical Pest Control); and manuals 1112 (Safety), 9011 (Chemical Pest Control), 9012 (Expenditure of Rangeland Insect Pest Control Funds), 9015 (Integrated Weed Management), and 9220 (Integrated Pest Management)

General

• Prepare operational and spill contingency plan in advance of treatment.

• Conduct a pretreatment survey before applying herbicides.

• Select herbicide that is least damaging to the environment while providing the desired results.

• Select herbicide products carefully to minimize additional impacts from degradates, adjuvants, inert ingredients, and tank mixtures.

• Apply the least amount of herbicide needed to achieve the desired result.

• Follow herbicide label guidance for use and storage.

• Have licensed applicators apply herbicides.

• Use only USEPA-approved herbicides and follow product label directions and “advisory” statements.

• Review, understand, and conform to the “Environmental Hazards” section on the herbicide product label. This section warns of known pesticide risks to the environment and provides practical ways to avoid harm to organisms or the environment.

• In addition to the information presented in the Environmental Hazards section, follow all additional precautions and restrictions identified on the label, paying particular attention to herbicides that require some form of soil incorporation, either mechanically or through a moisture event, to activate them. Applications to powdery, dry soil or light, sandy soil when there is little likelihood of an incorporation event may result in off-site movement when the treated soil particles area moved by wind.

• Consider surrounding land use before assigning aerial spraying as a treatment method and avoid aerial spraying near agricultural or densely populated areas.

• Consider site characteristics, current and immediate future environmental conditions, and application equipment in order to minimize damage to non-target vegetation.

• Minimize the size of application area, when feasible.

• Comply with herbicide-free buffer zones to ensure that drift will not affect crops or nearby residents/landowners.

• Post treated areas and specify reentry or rest times, if appropriate.

• Notify adjacent landowners prior to treatment.

• Keep a copy of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)/Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) at work sites.

SDSs/MSDSs are available for review at http://www.cdms.net/.

• Keep records of each application, including the active ingredient, formulation, application rate, date, time, and location.

• Avoid accidental direct spray and spill conditions to minimize risks to resources.

• Turn off applied treatments at the completion of spray runs and during turns to start another spray run.

• Avoid aerial spraying during periods of adverse weather conditions (snow or rain imminent, fog, or air turbulence).

• Make helicopter applications at a target airspeed of 40 to 50 miles per hour (mph), and at about

30 to 45 feet above ground.

• Take precautions to minimize drift by not applying herbicides when winds exceed 10 mph (6 mph for aerial applications), or a heavy rainfall event is imminent.

• Conduct pre-treatment surveys for sensitive habitat and special status species within or adjacent to proposed treatment areas.

• Use drift reduction agents, as directed by the label, and low volatile formulations to reduce the drift hazard to non-target species.

BLM Vegetation Treatments Three New Herbicides A-10 August 2016 Final Programmatic EIS Record of Decision

TABLE A-2 (Cont.)

Standard Operating Procedures for Applying Pesticides

Resource Element Standard Operating Procedure

General (cont.)

• Refer to the herbicide product label when planning revegetation to ensure that subsequent vegetation would not be injured following application of the herbicide.

• Do not use adjuvants that are not approved for use with the selected active ingredients. Review labels of herbicides and adjuvants proposed for use to ensure that the proposed adjuvant(s) are approved for use with the selected active ingredients and in application settings where the selected herbicides are approved for use.

• Clean OHVs to remove seeds.

Air Quality

See Manual 7000 (Soil, Water, and Air Management)

• Consider the effects of wind, humidity, temperature inversions, and heavy rainfall on herbicide effectiveness and risks.

• Apply herbicides in favorable weather conditions to minimize drift. For example, do not treat when winds exceed 10 mph (6 mph for aerial applications) or rainfall is imminent.

• Use drift reduction agents, as appropriate, to reduce the drift hazard.

• Select proper application equipment (e.g., spray equipment that produces 200- to 800-micron diameter droplets [spray droplets of 100 microns and less are most prone to drift]).

• Select proper application methods (e.g., set maximum spray heights, use appropriate buffer distances between spray sites and non-target resources).

Soil

See Manual 7000 (Soil, Water, and Air Management)

• Minimize treatments in areas where herbicide runoff is likely, such as steep slopes under conditions when heavy rainfall is expected.

• Minimize use of herbicides that have high soil mobility, particularly in areas where soil properties increase the potential for mobility.

• Do not apply granular herbicides on slopes of more than 15 percent where there is the possibility of runoff carrying the granules into non-target areas.

Water Resources

See Manual 7000 (Soil, Water, and Air Management)

• Consider climate, soil type, slope, and vegetation type when developing herbicide treatment programs.

• Select herbicide products to minimize impacts to water. This is especially important for application scenarios that involve risk from active ingredients in a particular herbicide, as predicted by risk assessments.

• Use local historical weather data to choose the month of treatment. Considering the phenology of the target species, schedule treatments based on the condition of the water body and existing water quality conditions.

• Plan to treat between weather fronts (calms) and at the appropriate time of day to avoid high winds that increase water movements, and to avoid potential stormwater runoff and water turbidity.

• Review hydrogeologic maps of proposed treatment areas. Note depths to groundwater and areas of shallow groundwater and areas of surface water and groundwater interaction.

Minimize treating areas with high risk for groundwater contamination.

• Conduct mixing and loading operations in an area where an accidental spill would not contaminate an aquatic body.

• Do not rinse spray tanks in or near water bodies. Do not broadcast pellets where there is danger of contaminating water supplies.

• As needed, maintain buffers between treatment areas and water bodies. Buffer widths should be developed based on herbicide- and site-specific criteria to minimize impacts to water bodies.

• Minimize the potential effects to surface water quality and quantity by stabilizing terrestrial areas as quickly as possible following treatment.

Wetlands and Riparian Areas

• Use a selective herbicide and a wick or backpack sprayer.

• Use appropriate herbicide-free buffer zones for herbicides not labeled for aquatic use based on risk assessment guidance, with minimum widths of 100 feet for aerial, 25 feet for vehicle, and 10 feet for hand spray applications.

Vegetation • Refer to the herbicide label when planning revegetation to ensure that subsequent vegetation would not be injured following application of the herbicide.

BLM Vegetation Treatments Three New Herbicides A-11 August 2016 Final Programmatic EIS Record of Decision

TABLE A-2 (Cont.)

Standard Operating Procedures for Applying Pesticides

Resource Element Standard Operating Procedure

Vegetation (cont.)

See Manuals 5000 (Forest Management) and 9015 (Integrated Weed Management)

• Consider site characteristics, environmental conditions, and application equipment in order to minimize damage to non-target vegetation.

• Review, understand, and incorporate application information identified in the environmental hazards section of the herbicide label, along with all additional precautions and restrictions identified on the label.

• Use weed seed-free feed for horses and pack animals. Use weed seed-free straw and mulch for revegetation and other activities.

• Identify and implement any temporary domestic livestock grazing and/or supplemental feeding restrictions needed to enhance desirable vegetation recovery following treatment. Consider adjustments in the existing grazing permit to maintain desirable vegetation on the treatment site.

Pollinators

• Ensure proper identification of pollinator plants, as some native species that attract and support many pollinators may be easily misidentified as invasive/noxious weed species.

• Complete vegetation treatments seasonally before pollinator foraging plants bloom.

• Time vegetation treatments to take place when foraging pollinators are least active both seasonally and daily.

• Apply herbicides at the stage of growth when the weed is most vulnerable, when application will be most successful.

• Design vegetation treatment projects so that nectar and pollen sources for important pollinators and resources are treated in patches rather than in one single treatment, or conduct spot treatments on individual invasive/noxious weed species, using the appropriate application equipment.

• Minimize herbicide application rates. Use typical rather than maximum rates where there are important pollinator resources.

• Maintain herbicide free buffer zones around patches of important pollinator nectar and pollen sources.

• Maintain herbicide free buffer zones around patches of important pollinator nesting habitat and hibernacula.

• Make special note of pollinators that have single host plant species, and minimize herbicide spraying on those plants (if invasive species) and in their habitats.

Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms

See Manuals 6500 (Wildlife and Fisheries Management) and 6780 (Habitat Management Plans)

• Use appropriate buffer zones based on label and risk assessment guidance.

• Minimize treatments near fish-bearing water bodies during periods when fish are in life stages most sensitive to the herbicide(s) used, and use spot rather than broadcast or aerial treatments.

• Use appropriate application equipment/method near water bodies if the potential for off-site drift exists.

• For treatment of aquatic vegetation, 1) treat only that portion of the aquatic system necessary to achieve acceptable vegetation management, 2) use the appropriate application method to minimize the potential for injury to desirable vegetation and aquatic organisms, and 3) follow water use restrictions presented on the herbicide label.

Wildlife

See Manuals 6500 (Wildlife and Fisheries Management) and 6780 (Habitat Management Plans)

• Use herbicides of low toxicity to wildlife, where feasible.

• Use spot applications or low-boom broadcast operations where possible to limit the probability of contaminating non-target food and water sources, especially non-target vegetation over areas larger than the treatment area.

• Use timing restrictions (e.g., do not treat during critical wildlife breeding or staging periods) to minimize impacts to wildlife.

Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species

See Manual 6840 (Special Status Species)

• Survey for special status species before treating an area, at a time when the species can be found. Consider effects to special status species when designing herbicide treatment programs.

• Where feasible, use a selective herbicide and a wick or backpack sprayer to minimize risks to special status plants.

• Avoid treating vegetation during time-sensitive periods (e.g., nesting and migration, sensitive life stages) for special status species in area to be treated.

BLM Vegetation Treatments Three New Herbicides A-12 August 2016 Final Programmatic EIS Record of Decision

TABLE A-2 (Cont.)

Standard Operating Procedures for Applying Pesticides

Resource Element Standard Operating Procedure

Livestock

• Whenever possible and whenever needed, schedule treatments when livestock are not present in the treatment area. Design treatments to take advantage of normal livestock grazing rest periods, when possible.

• As directed by the herbicide product label, remove livestock from treatment sites prior to herbicide application, where applicable.

• Use herbicides of low toxicity to livestock, where feasible.

• Take into account the different types of application equipment and methods, where possible, to reduce the probability of contamination of non-target food and water sources.

• Notify permittees of the herbicide treatment project to improve coordination and avoid potential conflicts and safety concerns during implementation of the treatment.

• Notify permittees of livestock grazing, feeding, or slaughter restrictions, if necessary.

• Provide alternative forage sites for livestock, if possible.

Wild Horses and Burros

• Minimize use of herbicides in areas grazed by wild horses and burros.

• Use herbicides of low toxicity to wild horses and burros, where feasible.

• Remove wild horses and burros from identified treatment areas prior to herbicide application, in accordance with herbicide product label directions for livestock.

• Take into account the different types of application equipment and methods, where possible, to reduce the probability of contaminating non-target food and water sources.

Cultural Resources and Paleontological Resources

See Handbooks H-8120-1 (Guidelines for Conducting Tribal Consultation) and H- 8270-1 (General Procedural Guidance for Paleontological Resource Management), and Manuals 8100 (The Foundations for Managing Cultural Resources), 8120 (Tribal Consultation Under Cultural Resource Authorities), and 8270 (Paleontological Resource Management)

See also: Programmatic Agreement among the Bureau of Land Management, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers Regarding the Manner in Which BLM Will Meet Its Responsibilities Under the National Historic Preservation Act.

• Follow standard procedures for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as implemented through the Programmatic Agreement among the Bureau of Land Management, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers Regarding the Manner in Which BLM Will Meet Its Responsibilities Under the National Historic Preservation Act and state protocols or 36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 800, including necessary consultations with State Historic Preservation Officers and interested tribes.

• Follow BLM Handbook H-8270-1 (General Procedural Guidance for Paleontological Resource Management) to determine known Condition I and Condition 2 paleontological areas, or collect information through inventory to establish Condition 1 and Condition 2 areas, determine resource types at risk from the proposed treatment, and develop appropriate measures to minimize or mitigate adverse impacts.

• Consult with tribes to locate any areas of vegetation that are of significance to the tribe and that might be affected by herbicide treatments.

• Work with tribes to minimize impacts to these resources.

• Follow guidance under Human Health and Safety in the PEIS in areas that may be visited by

Native peoples after treatments.

Visual Resources

See Handbooks H-8410-1 (Visual Resource Inventory) and H-8431-1 (Visual Resource Contrast Rating), and Manual 8400 (Visual Resource Management)

• Minimize the use of broadcast foliar applications in sensitive watersheds to avoid creating large areas of browned vegetation.

• Consider the surrounding land use before assigning aerial spraying as an application method.

BLM Vegetation Treatments Three New Herbicides A-13 August 2016 Final Programmatic EIS Record of Decision

TABLE A-2 (Cont.)

Standard Operating Procedures for Applying Pesticides

Resource Element Standard Operating Procedure

Visual Resources (cont.)

• Minimize off-site drift and mobility of herbicides (e.g., do not treat when winds exceed 10 mph; minimize treatment in areas where herbicide runoff is likely; establish appropriate buffer widths between treatment areas and residences) to contain visual changes to the intended treatment area.

• If the area is a Class I or II visual resource, ensure that the change to the characteristic landscape is low and does not attract attention (Class I), or if seen, does not attract the attention of the casual viewer (Class II).

• Lessen visual impacts by: 1) designing projects to blend in with topographic forms; 2) leaving some low-growing trees or planting some low-growing tree seedlings adjacent to the treatment area to screen short-term effects; and 3) revegetating the site following treatment.

• When restoring treated areas, design activities to repeat the form, line, color, and texture of the natural landscape character conditions to meet established Visual Resource Management objectives.

Wilderness and Other Special Areas

See Handbooks H-8550-1 (Management of Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs)), and H- 8560-1 (Management of Designated Wilderness Study Areas), and Manual 8351 (Wild and Scenic Rivers)

• Encourage backcountry pack and saddle stock users to feed their livestock only weed seed-free feed for several days before entering a wilderness area.

• Encourage stock users to tie and/or hold stock in such a way as to minimize soil disturbance and loss of native vegetation.

• Revegetate disturbed sites with native species if there is no reasonable expectation of natural regeneration.

• Provide educational materials at trailheads and other wilderness entry points to educate the public on the need to prevent the spread of weeds.

• Use the “minimum tool” to treat noxious and invasive vegetation, relying primarily on the use of ground-based tools, including backpack pumps, hand sprayers, and pumps mounted on pack and saddle stock.

• Use chemicals only when they are the minimum method necessary to control weeds that are spreading within the wilderness or threaten lands outside the wilderness.

• Give preference to herbicides that have the least impact on non-target species and the wilderness environment.

• Implement herbicide treatments during periods of low human use, where feasible.

• Address wilderness and special areas in management plans.

• Maintain adequate buffers for Wild and Scenic Rivers (¼ mile on either side of river, ½ mile in

Alaska).

Recreation

See Handbook H-1601-1 (Land Use Planning Handbook, Appendix C)

• Schedule treatments to avoid peak recreational use times, while taking into account the optimum management period for the targeted species.

• Notify the public of treatment methods, hazards, times, and nearby alternative recreation areas.

• Adhere to entry restrictions identified on the herbicide product label for public and worker access.

• Post signs noting exclusion areas and the duration of exclusion, if necessary.

• Use herbicides during periods of low human use, where feasible.

Social and Economic Values

• Consider surrounding land use before selecting aerial spraying as a method, and avoid aerial spraying near agricultural or densely-populated areas.

• Post treated areas and specify reentry or rest times, if appropriate.

• Notify grazing permittees of livestock feeding restrictions in treated areas, if necessary, as per herbicide product label instructions.

• Notify the public of the project to improve coordination and avoid potential conflicts and safety concerns during implementation of the treatment.

• Control public access until potential treatment hazards no longer exist, per herbicide product label instructions.

• Observe restricted entry intervals specified by the herbicide product label.

BLM Vegetation Treatments Three New Herbicides A-14 August 2016 Final Programmatic EIS Record of Decision

TABLE A-2 (Cont.)

Standard Operating Procedures for Applying Pesticides

Resource Element Standard Operating Procedure

Social and Economic Values (cont.)

• Notify local emergency personnel of proposed treatments.

• Use spot applications or low-boom broadcast applications where possible to limit the probability of contaminating non-target food and water sources, especially vegetation over areas larger than the treatment area.

• Consult with Native American tribes, Alaska Native groups, and Alaska Native Corporations to locate any areas of vegetation that are of significance to tribes, Native groups, or Alaska Native Corporations and that might be affected by herbicide treatments.

• To the degree possible within the law, hire local contractors and workers to assist with herbicide application projects and purchase materials and supplies, including chemicals, for herbicide treatment projects through local suppliers.

• To minimize fears based on lack of information, provide public educational information on the need for vegetation treatments and the use of herbicides in an integrated pest management program for projects proposing local use of herbicides.

Rights-of-way

• Coordinate vegetation management activities where joint or multiple use of a ROW exists.

• Notify other public land users within or adjacent to the ROW proposed for treatment.

• Use only herbicides that are approved for use in ROW areas.

Human Health and Safety

• Establish a buffer between treatment areas and human residences based on guidance given in the human health risk assessment, with a minimum buffer of ¼ mile for aerial applications and 100 feet for ground applications, unless a written waiver is granted.

• Use protective equipment as directed by the herbicide product label.

• Post treated areas with appropriate signs at common public access areas.

• Observe restricted entry intervals specified by the herbicide product label.

• Provide public notification in newspapers or other media where the potential exists for public exposure.

• Have a copy of MSDSs/SDSs at work site.

• Notify local emergency personnel of proposed treatments.

• Contain and clean up spills and request help as needed.

• Secure containers during transport.

• Follow label directions for use and storage.

• Dispose of unwanted herbicides promptly and correctly.

BLM Vegetation Treatments Three New Herbicides A-15 August 2016 Final Programmatic EIS Record of Decision

TABLE A-3

Mitigation Measures From the 2007 PEIS

Resource Mitigation Measures Air Quality None proposed.

Soil Resources None proposed.

Water Resources and Quality

• Establish appropriate (herbicide specific) buffer zones to downstream water bodies, habitats, and species/populations of interest.

Wetland and Riparian Areas • See mitigation for Water Resources and Quality and Vegetation.

Vegetation

• Minimize the use of terrestrial herbicides (especially bromacil, diuron, and sulfometuron methyl) in watersheds with downgradient ponds and streams if potential impacts to aquatic plants are of concern.

• Establish appropriate (herbicide specific) buffer zones around downstream water bodies, habitats, and species/populations of interest. Consult the ecological risk assessments for more specific information on appropriate buffer distances under different soil, moisture, vegetation, and application scenarios.

• To protect special status plant species, implement all conservation measures for plants presented in the Vegetation Treatments on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Biological Assessment.

Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms

• Limit the use of diquat in water bodies that have native fish and aquatic resources.

• Limit the use of terrestrial herbicides in watersheds with characteristics suitable for potential surface runoff, that have fish-bearing streams, during periods when fish are in life stages most sensitive to the herbicide(s) used.

• To protect special status fish and other aquatic organisms, implement all conservation measures for aquatic animals presented in the Vegetation Treatments on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Biological Assessment.

• Establish appropriate herbicide-specific buffer zones for water bodies, habitats, or fish or other aquatic species of interest (see recommendations in individual ecological risk assessments).

• Avoid using the adjuvant R-11® in aquatic environments, and either avoid using glyphosate formulations containing polyoxyethyleneamine (POEA), or seek to use…